Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-06-16
SOUND DOCTRINE.
An Influential Religious Papers Re-
marks I'm support of the Demo-
cratic Land Policy.

The platforms of both parties, in the
last Presidential election, declared in
nearly identical language that the pub
lie lands ought to be kept as home.
steads for actual settlers and demand
ed that unearned lands granted to rail-
road corporations should be restored TO
the public domain. These resolutions
were Inconsistent with the policy that
has prevailed for many years in the
Land Office of the Department of the
Interior. by "rulings" that are with
out warrant OF law, and sometimes in
defiance Of statute, immense tracts Of
land have been withdrawn from settle
ment. In 1861 tract forty miles wide
on each side of the road in the Territor-
les and twenty miles in the States was
voted to the Northern Pacific railway,
on condition of Its completing the road
by July 4, 1876. The time was after
wards extended to July 4, 1879. at
which time only $50 miles out of u total
OF 2,S62 had been completed. AT the
present time 225 miles remain TO be
built. To much of the land this COM
pany now holds 1t has no legal title, be-
cause its non-fullillment of contract.
And yet it has been suffered by the
Land Office to take possession, and
1 ,000, 900 acres of land are withdrawn
from settlement in the Columbia River
valley, in order that the company may
have them when it completes its track.
1t so happened that in 1878 one Gull
ford Miller settled in good faith on a
tract of land in Washington Territory,
which happened TO be within the limits
where the railway was entitled to select
lands. He filed his claim under the
homestead law December %, 1854. He
has farmed his land and made certain
improvements on it, which have mater
tally increased its value. The railway
company, seven years after he had
settled, endeayored to GUST Miller. He
appealed to the Government, and his
appeal ultimately found its way to the
President. Mr.. Cleveland inquired
carefully into the modern version of
Naboth's vineyard, ar1 decided that
the railroad was attempting, under COL
or of law. to take from a worthy citizen
his hard-earned property. He returns
the documents to the Secretary of the
Interior, with letter in which he says:
81 suggest that you exercise the power
and authority you have in the premises
upon equitable considerations, with ev-
cry presumption and intendment in ia
vor of the settler, and in case you find
the corporation is entitled to select any
more of these lands than it has already
acquired, that you direct it to select in
lieu of the land upon which Mr.. Miller
has settled, other lands within the lim-
its of this idemnity reservation, upon
which neither he nor any other citizen
has in good faith settled or made i'm
provements."
Not only does Mr.. Cleveland thus de-
eide this case, by suggestion" that
is equivalent to command, but he con-
demns in the strongest terms the form.
er policy Of the Interior Department.
1t is perfectly plain, though the fact is
not announced in so many words, that
the policy of the Government is to be
radically changed. The public lands
are not to be henceforth the spoil of
great corporations, but the heritage of
the people. This has been the will of
the people from the first, but that will
has been thwarted by unwise legislation
and fagrantly unjust official action.
Let the peoples land be for the people,
says the President. That is sound doc
trine, whoever says it, and the people
haye been looking for years for some
man In authority who would practice
what he preached.-N. Y. Examiner.